Zou Shiming to return to the boxing ring in Macau

By James Goyder / Contributing reporter

Two-time Olympic boxing gold medalist and three-time amateur world champion Zou Shiming returns to the ring on July 27, when he is scheduled to take on Mexico’s Jesus Ortega at the Cotai Arena in Macau. It is to be the second time the Chinese boxer has fought in this venue after his successful professional debut last month.

While the Chinese flyweight will be the main attraction for the majority of fans at the Top Rank-promoted Fists of Gold II, there are also a couple of world-title bouts on the card, with Juan Estrada making the first defense of his WBO and WBA flyweight belts.

Estrada (24-2) caused an upset when he defeated Brian Viloria by decision at the inaugural Top Rank boxing event in Macau, Fists of Gold I, in April. The Mexican will be going up against unbeaten Milan Melindo (28-0), who will be challenging for a world title for the first time.

The other world title fight sees two featherweights go head-to-head when undefeated IBF champion Evgeny Gradovich (16-0) from Russia takes on No. 1 contender and mandatory challenger Mauricio Munoz (26-3) of Argentina.

Shiming got his professional career off to a solid start when he outpointed another Mexican, Eleazar Valenzuela, in the main event of Fists of Gold I. He will be hoping to end his second fight more emphatically and trainer Freddie Roach says that this is exactly what they will be working on in preparation for July 27.

“This time our main focus will be on getting him to punch harder. Shiming will need to learn how to sit down on his punches to maximize their power. I was very pleased with how quickly Shiming learned what I was teaching during our first training camp and he is the hardest worker in the gym. I cannot wait to start working with him again,” the Hall of Fame trainer said.

Ortega (3-1) is a stablemate of world flyweight champion Juan Estrada and has won his last two fights, while Shiming (1-0) followed in the footsteps of Philippine legend Manny Pacquiao by traveling to Los Angeles to train at Roach’s Wild Card Gym.